cannabisnews.com: Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Use Hot Topic





Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Use Hot Topic
Posted by CN Staff on October 22, 2008 at 05:41:17 PT
By Barbara Wieland, Lansing State Journal
Source: Lansing State Journal 
Michigan -- Lynn Allen has lived with the bleeding disorder hemophilia all of his 52 years. He's lived with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, for three decades. Hemophilia wreaked havoc on his joints. And HIV, contracted through a tainted blood transfusion, weakened him further, robbing him of an appetite and leading to the loss of 40 pounds from his already slim frame.
Allen's health insurer spends thousands of dollars a month on prescriptions to combat the pain and limit progression of the diseases. But Allen says there's one drug that could control his pain and stimulate his appetite that he can't get - marijuana.Allen, of Williamston, is backing Michigan's Proposal 1, a measure on the Nov. 4 ballot that would legalize medical marijuana.But those who oppose the proposal warn that passage could lead to widespread recreational use of the drug by teens looking for a high, and say that marijuana isn't regulated enough to be prescribed as a drug.To Allen, the proposal is "an opportunity for people to show compassion for people who are living under dire medical circumstances."But to Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Bill Schuette, Proposal 1 is bad medicine."I'm keenly sensitive to the need for chronic pain management, but this proposal is so broadly written that it would have unintended consequences," he said.He's worried that passage of the measure in Michigan will lead to the kind of "pot shops," places where people gather to use the drug, that have cropped up in California since medical marijuana was approved by voters in 1996.Schuette is also concerned passage would lead to a proliferation of recreational use of marijuana. The proposal allows for a doctor-approved patient to grow up to 12 plants - more than anyone needs to control pain, he said.Furthermore, some bristle at legitimizing a substance that is often smoked."Smoking is not a good thing. It's not a message we want to send to children," said Donald Allen, director of Michigan's Office of Drug Control Policy.While marijuana may be smoked, it can also be vaporized and inhaled or ingested.Supporters accuse opponents of raising unfair objections. They claim fair comparisons can't be drawn between Michigan and California. California was the first of a dozen states to legalize medical use of the plant, and proponents argue that laws proposed in Michigan are more tightly written."The (anti-Proposal 1) side is spreading misinformation and scare tactics," said Diane Byrum, spokeswoman for the Coalition for Compassionate Care, the group supporting the proposal.Doctors are divided on the measure. While the Michigan State Medical Society opposes it, some in the medical community support it.Dr. Greg Forzley, chairman of the state medical society, said that without production controls, marijuana isn't suitable to be prescribed as a drug."There's no standards. The strength (of the drug) varies from one plant to the next," he said. "That the medical community isn't supporting this is telling."But retired Dr. George Frederick Wagoner, 73, said marijuana was the only thing that successfully combated his wife's nausea as she struggled with ovarian cancer and chemotherapy. She died earlier this year."I would plead with (voters), please vote yes. Any medicine that effective ought to be available legally," he said.Source: Lansing State Journal (MI)Author: Barbara Wieland, Lansing State Journal Published:  October 22, 2008Copyright: 2008 Lansing State JournalWebsite: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uc45fODdRelated Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/Proposal 1 Offers Relief, Compassion, Safeguards http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24241.shtmlPatients Need Relief Marijuana Giveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24233.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by museman on October 23, 2008 at 11:59:07 PT
runruff OT
You should see this. Its a real eye opener.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on October 23, 2008 at 01:08:00 PT
Angry Politicians & Compassionate Voters
FoM #5 "Drug Czar Urges 'No' Vote" & fight_4_freedom #3 "TV Ads for Proposal 1 are now airing"When Bush and Cheney and the neocon posse took over the US federal government in Jan.2001, I could tell from their angry, unsmiling body language that the country was headed for dark days.Soon after 9/11, Bush addressed the UN with angry rhetoric to bully the UN to suspend inspections by Hans Blix and to use "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (never found) to justify an illegal War on Iraq. McCain - Palin use angry words to stir up voters.The Drug Czar is a classic angry man who will not debate his opponents. (Look at his face: http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=C5&Date=20081022&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=310220004&Ref=AR
)Michigan voters, like those in many other states, are tired of angry politicians. These videos will touch the hearts of compassionate Michigan voters, who will heed their progressive message.
http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on October 22, 2008 at 18:22:03 PT
After brainwash, the spin cycle.
"Marijuana Lobby Trying To Pull Con on Michigan Voters"Oh how they spin the truth! The feds have been pulling a con on the American people and the world for 70 years now.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 22, 2008 at 17:18:00 PT
Drug Czar Urges 'No' Vote
Drug Czar Urges 'No' Vote: 'Marijuana Lobby Trying To Pull Con on Michigan Voters'October 22, 2008http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20081022/NEWS/310220004
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 22, 2008 at 15:49:50 PT
New Medical Marijuana, Stem Cell Research Ads Air
By Dawson Bell, Free Press Staff Writer October 22, 2008 
Supporters of Michigan’s two statewide, and unrelated, ballot proposals on medical marijuana and embryonic stem cell research unveiled new advertising campaigns Wednesday, both aiming to appeal to voters' compassion and desire to help the seriously ill.Two ads for Proposal 1, to legalize the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes, feature a West Michigan woman describing how marijuana gave her relief during cancer treatment, and a retired obstetrician who said marijuana was the only thing that helped his cancer-stricken and now deceased wife of 51 years.Both, now airing statewide, are the first of the marijuana campaign by either side. They can be seen here: http://stoparrestingpatients.org/Complete Article: http://www.freep.com/article/20081022/NEWS06/81022059/1008/NEWS
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Comment #3 posted by fight_4_freedom on October 22, 2008 at 13:47:25 PT
TV Ads for Proposal 1 are now airing
This is so exciting!You can check them both out here. 
http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/
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Comment #2 posted by CanadianGanjaman on October 22, 2008 at 11:18:05 PT
Regulation...
Even if pharmasists could regulate the drug, who could determine the stregnth of the marijuana needed to combat certain types of pain? Unregulated is, for the moment, the most effective solution.
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Comment #1 posted by dongenero on October 22, 2008 at 08:24:06 PT
Judge Schuette
appears to be a medical marijuana expert.Schuette is also concerned passage would lead to a proliferation of recreational use of marijuana. The proposal allows for a doctor-approved patient to grow up to 12 plants - more than anyone needs to control pain, he said.Well thanks for that professional assessment Judge Schuette. Who knew you were such an expert? Do you suppose he even knows that there are male and female plants? I doubt it. So out of these 12 plants, suppose 50% are male. Suppose you lose a percentage of the remaining female plants to pests, weather, theft etc. Then what will your yield be of the remaining plants....1/2 oz per plant? 4 ounces per plant? 1 lb per plant? Any of these amounts are possible. The lower yields are most likely, even if you are lucky. Out of the 6 female plants you were fortunate to bring 100% to maturity you may get 3 ounces total or you may be lucky and end up with 24 ounces or more. Whatever it is, that's what you have for the entire year if you are in the midwest growing outdoors. You had better hedge your bets.
 
Then you have the variable of delivery method. How much do you need if ingest the cannabis in food or beverage rather than smoke or vaporize. You need far more cannabis to dose in food or beverage.I would say the assumption that you know everything about an issue you are clearly ignorant about is a bad indication of judicial judgment. That means you Judge Schuette.
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